Lisa Redford Unplugged - Americana

It’s only February but already there has been lots going on in 2016 which I am delighted to share with my All Things Norfolk followers. Music has been my passion for as long as I can remember and last week I was interviewed for a great upcoming music project. BBC4 will soon be broadcasting the People’s History of Pop, a four-part interactive series where music fans share their special memories of favourite artists and venues and in particular their treasured pop and rock memorabilia. All BBC Local Radio stations are also broadcasting their own tie-in programmes and I chatted to BBC Radio Norfolk about my own collection of memorabilia and the memories associated with them. I’ve amassed quite a collection of rare items by Morrissey, The Smiths and bands from the Britpop era, including vinyl and autographs, and they provide a lovely reminder of some fun gigs I went to and reflect how music can be such a powerful soundtrack to your life.

Producer Paul Hayes has been accumulating some great stories and memories from other music fans in the area including their favourite gigs and venues from the past and a story about David Bowie’s performance at Norwich Theatre Royal in 1973. The programme will be broadcast on BBC Radio Norfolk on Sunday 7th of February at 12 midday. After that it will be available on the iPlayer for 30 days after transmission.

I’ve previously mentioned my incredibly talented award winning vocal student Breeze and she has just recorded one of my original songs ‘Courage’. I’m really enjoying writing songs for others and it’s really heartfelt and anthemic with a universal theme. It was recorded at The Mill Studio near Diss who are responsible for producing releases by many local bands as well as international signed recording artists. Jonny Cole, who runs the studio, has done a great job working on the song and it will be available online soon. Breeze is also preparing to represent Great Britain at an international singing contest, travelling to Long Beach, California to take part in the World Championships of Performing Arts (WCPA) which attracts contestants from 60 countries. If you want to support her on this amazing journey and opportunity, please read more here:https://www.gofundme.com/breeze-team-gb

As many know I’ve been a big fan of Americana music for a long time, artists such as Ryan Adams, Wilco, Lucinda Williams and many more have inspired my own sound and albums and I’ve shared the stage with many respected artists in the genre. My upcoming acoustic release also very much embraces it with a rootsy sound and lots of dobro, ukulele and harmonies.

Americana music incorporates elements of various American styles, including country, roots-rock, folk, bluegrass and blues and its been flourishing in recent years here in the UK with a growing roster of artists, festivals and music industry professionals specialising in the genre. Now, excitingly it is to have its own official chart. BBC Radio 2’s Bob Harris, who is also hosting his very own festival this May, the Under the Apple Tree Roots festival (info here: http://www.undertheappletreefestival.com/) which will showcase and celebrate a number of Americana artists, said of the new chart: “I am so pleased to see the founding of a new Americana chart. It is important and appropriate that the popularity of this wonderful, vibrant and creative genre is acknowledged in this way.” The Official Americana Albums Chart will feature the top 40 best selling Americana albums of the previous week. It will be published weekly on OfficialCharts.com, Fridays, 5.45pm, and will appear on the AMA UK site http://theamauk.org at 6pm each Friday. The AMA UK are also hosting their own conference, showcases and awards show this week in London.

Now that the year is in full swing there are lots of great upcoming gigs in the area. At OPEN there’s the rescheduled headline by Public Service Broadcasting on 12th and the excellent Turin Brakes, who I’ve enjoyed at Latitude Festival, play on the 21st in support of new album ‘Lost Property’. On the 22nd at the Bicycle Shop is talented singer songwriter Raevennan Husbandes who I’ve seen a few times. She plays and sings beautifully and is also currently playing with the Moulettes. Much talked about folk artist Kelly Oliver is also coming to the Bicycle Shop on the 29th as part of her second album tour, her only date in East Anglia, and local artist Marina Florance, who is also releasing an album, is the special guest. It’s also been so heartening to see how many music fans have shown support for Norwich venue The Owl Sanctuary who have been threatened with closure. It’s so important that small live venues are kept open, as the People’s History of Pop illustrates, they provide music fans with special memories for years to come.

For all my upcoming gigs, music videos and teaching information, please take a look at www.lisaredford.com

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It’s been a little while since my last All Things Norfolk article as it has been a very busy time. Anything But Easy - the first single from my brand new EP “Edge of Love” - was released on 22nd February and I’ve been working really hard to promote it, doing radio and magazine interviews. It has been wonderful to receive such a lovely response and so much airplay including many BBC Shows and various stations across the world. I was also recently interviewed by Sam Day on BBC Radio Norfolk and chose my Norfolk Anthems (favourite songs!) as well as talked about the single.

It is available on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify and also at my Bandcamp page:

Huge thanks to All Things Norfolk who has already shared the official music video for Anything But Easy. Filmed in beautiful Dunwich and Walberswick, Suffolk on one of those glorious February days we enjoyed recently! Thanks to talented local videographer David McKenna at Light to Love Productions for filming and directing and capturing such a magic light.

I am really excited that the PledgeMusic crowdfunding campaign for my next release is already at 86%! A huge thank you to all those of you who have pledged or shared the project. As an independent artist it really means a lot.

Recording for the new EP has just finished here in Norwich and it has been a really productive and exciting process. As mentioned, I am working with the super talented musician and producer José McGill – band-leader of the award-winning local band Vagaband – who has created some beautiful arrangements and played an array of instruments.

There is also a host of other local musicians who have been involved. Noel Dashwood – from Norwich based folk trio Alden Patterson and Dashwood - has contributed his wonderful dobro and harmonies. We have performed live together in the area playing festivals such as Folk East in Suffolk and supporting Sarah Darling and Eliza Carthy at Norwich Waterfront and OPEN. He will be performing with his trio at Epic Studios on 22nd November opening for renowned folk artists Show of Hands.

I am really excited to have launched my first ever PledgeMusic crowdfunding project for a brand new release. I have already started recording material with local band The Vagaband - recent recipients of The Music Award at the 2018 Norfolk Arts Awards - who I also recorded my last EP with.

There are some very special rewards and exclusives on offer including two beloved guitars and some rare signed memorabilia from my back catalogue. You will also be helping Dogs Trust as I spend a lot of time walking rescue dogs in the area and their companionship is truly special. Please watch the video and check out the rewards on offer - I would so appreciate any shares on social media.

Norfolk Day will be upon us this Friday, 27th July and I am really excited to share this beautiful new music video from my incredibly talented student Breeze Redwine. Especially filmed for Norfolk Day and showcasing the stunning countryside of the county, it has already had a wonderful response and been selected as the official song for the occasion. The track is "Trust" an original song written by myself and Breeze which is also the title track of her debut EP. Everyone involved in the video is from Norfolk, from the musicians to the video director-producer David McKenna, and the project was sponsored by Rushall-based Vincent’s Garage.

Some of the county’s most iconic landmarks feature in the video including including Thurne in the Norfolk Broads, Happisburgh Light House, Cromer Pier and The Waveney Valley.

I’m really excited to share my new original song “I Just Can’t Forget” the first track from my second Whispering Bob TV Under The Apple Tree session. Curated by Bob Harris himself, Under the Apple Tree sessions are intimate performances recorded live in the studio of Whispering Bob Harris, which just happens to be situated under an apple tree.

It is always special catching up with Bob Harris and his son Miles Hyerscough-Harris - who beautifully records and films the sessions - and it was also a treat to be reunited with brilliant pedal steel player Alan Cook who played on my second album “Lost Again”